evasively
In slippery fashion
Evasively describes doing something in a way that avoids directness or commitment.
Someone who answers evasively sidesteps the question rather than addressing it head-on: She smiled evasively when asked about her plans.
The word suggests deliberate vagueness, often to conceal information or avoid confrontation.
Causing false beliefs
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- slyCleverly deceptive
guileful · wily · duplicitous · disingenuous · artful · cunning · tricky · calculating
Indirect, winding path
- obliqueAngled, not straightforward
- roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
periphrastic · allusive · veiled · meandering · digressive · sidestepping · skirting · deflecting
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
- deflectingTurning from original path
parrying · circumventing · eluding · escaping · stonewalling · rebuffing · dismissing · brushing off
Unclear, ill-defined
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- unclearNot easily understood
- crypticObscure in meaning
nebulous · indefinite · imprecise · obscure · muddled · hedging · guarded · uncommitted
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
sly · guileful · wily · duplicitous · disingenuous · artful · cunning · tricky · calculating · scheming
circuitous
Indirect, winding path
- obliqueAngled, not straightforward
- roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
elliptical · periphrastic · allusive · veiled · meandering · digressive · sidestepping · skirting · deflecting · circumlocutory
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
deflecting · parrying · circumventing · eluding · escaping · stonewalling · rebuffing · dismissing · brushing off · declining
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- unclearNot easily understood
cryptic · nebulous · indefinite · imprecise · obscure · muddled · hedging · guarded · uncommitted · waffling
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- shady adverbsdishonestly, deceitfully, deceptively, fraudulently, sneakily
evasivelydirectly
Without intermediary steps
straightforwardly · forthrightly · point-blank · bluntly · plainly
evasivelycandidly
Without concealment or evasion
frankly · honestly · openly · transparently · truthfully
- evasive maneuvers
- evasive actionMovement to escape harm